Irrational fears

[Yenke-Bin]

I think many people, if not most, have something they are afraid of beyond a point of rationality. Perhaps its a fear of snakes, so one avoids going outdoors to often. Or maybe its a fear of clowns, where as people avoid situations with clowns. I have an acquaintance so terrified of clowns that she started hardcore freaking out (crying, hyper ventilating, shaking) at the sight of Ronald McDonald. As for me, I have an irrational fear of, well, extra-terrestrial life, mainly due to the portrayal of such creatures in popular film. Its not to the point where I avoid movies, situations, or such to avoid seeing ETs on-screen. However, I have had many sleepless nights because of my fear. When I was younger, I had several instances where I had nightmares regarding ETs in my room. However, they turned very realistic when I began to wake up from the nightmares partially, yet my mind still had the images running through my mind. For a young child, nothing can be scarier than to have strange creatures surrounding the bed, not touching said child, but just staring with those deep black eyes. Add in not being able to move, or yell for a period of time, and it becomes frightful almost to the point of near death. So because of that, I now keep myself awake at some nights, afraid that if I sleep I will awaken to those same images.

For those of you out there that have these same type of 'irrational' behavior towards a fear, could you explain to us (more like me) what type of fear you have? What do you do to try and avoid situations which may include you cause of fear? Have you been able to get past your fear, and live a more peaceful, normal life?

[No Names Left Damn It]

Drowning. I mean obviously no-one would like it, but if I'm underwater and for whatever reason can't get straight back out I go berserk. I almost tore a clump of a friend's hair out at the age of 14.

[Jordaxia]

I hate all flying insects, and to a lesser extent, spiders. Flying insects tend to try and fly into my face which freaks me out beyond all reason, so once I see one, I'll usually end up following it until it lands on a wall and crushing it. I avoid my fear, obviously, by being decidedly murderous to said insects, so they're no longer 'flying'.

I'm also scared of strangers in a big way. I'll often cross the street if I don't like the 'look' of someone. The bigger the amount of strangers, the more fear I experience. I don't consider this an irrational fear though, but perhaps the extent of it is. I won't go outside alone when it's dark, because of the combined fear of the dark, and of strangers. I dislike walking through anywhere (even my home) when it's dark because my mind concocts phantoms that will reach and grab at me from the corner of my imagination (that is, I don't even see them, but I panic about them being there anyway). I've not got rid of that fear either, or found an efficient way to combat it save be in the company of others.

[North Suran]

Spiders.

Especially camel spiders*.




*Yes, I know they are not technically spiders.

[Buffett and Colbert]

I'm not afraid of too many things, and people I know that you'd ask probably wouldn't be able to tell you what I am afraid of. But I have to weaknesses.

Bees and telephones.

I go nuts when there is a bee or bee-like insect around. I'm terrified of those little buggers. As for telephones, I hate hate hate being on the phone and especially calling people. I don't know why, but I hate it and will try and avoid a telephone call at all costs.

[No Names Left Damn It]

I dislike walking through anywhere (even my home) when it's dark because my mind concocts phantoms that will reach and grab at me from the corner of my imagination (that is, I don't even see them, but I panic about them being there anyway).

Same. I won't go into a dark room alone without turning on a light.

[No Names Left Damn It]

This:

I really am not afraid of anything

contradicts this:

I'm terrifiedof those little buggers

[Khadgar]

I dislike walking through anywhere (even my home) when it's dark because my mind concocts phantoms that will reach and grab at me from the corner of my imagination (that is, I don't even see them, but I panic about them being there anyway).

Same. I won't go into a dark room alone without turning on a light.

Go watch Forest of the Dead or Silence in the Library.

As for me I have an irrational dislike of looking at people's eyes. When I was a kid I was afraid people would be able to read my thoughts if they looked at my eyes.

[Buffett and Colbert]

This:

I really am not afraid of anything

contradicts this:

I'm terrifiedof those little buggers

That came out incorrectly.

EDIT-- I editted it.

[Consaria]

Dogs and Scorpions

[Buffett and Colbert]

Dogs and Scorpions

My mother got stung by a scorpion once. If you are stung by one, believe me, alcohol does NOT help the pain.

[No Names Left Damn It]

Go watch Forest of the Dead or Silence in the Library.

Didn't find either that scary. It's more the thought that there is someone else in the room, about to grab me.

[No Names Left Damn It]

My mother got stung by a scorpion once. If you are stung by one, believe me, alcohol does NOT help the pain.

Yeah, you need to whack something alkaline on it.

[North Suran]

Dogs and Scorpions

My mother got stung by a scorpion once. If you are stung by one, believe me, alcohol does NOT help the pain.

Keine Scheiße, Sherlock.

[Dread Lady Nathicana]

I probably have several irrational fears, and recall mostly in my childhood having them affect me to the point of doing things oddly or differently than one normally might - including once locking myself in the bathroom overnight because I was scared to go out into the dark hallway and get safely to my room due to fears of ... whatever might be out there. Or having to walk through the back room in the basement to the storage room a certain way, and exiting out another - 'just to be safe'.

I don't think I'm going to get into all of it. Its complex, and more than a little uncomfortable to discuss, really. But I think one of the most damnably irritating things is to know your fear is irrational, and to fight it tooth and nail, and still in some cases be unable to control it.

You know it isn't right. You know there's nothing really to fear. But your hands shake, you get the cold sweats, your knees get wobbly, and the panic sets in to the point of tears, in some cases.

I'm a grown woman, ffs. You'd think that I'd have gotten over all that by now, but no. Reactions just aren't as severe as they were when I was a kid, and they don't keep me from living my life fairly normally, thank heavens.

[Buffett and Colbert]

My mother got stung by a scorpion once. If you are stung by one, believe me, alcohol does NOT help the pain.

Yeah, you need to whack something alkaline on it.

Yes well. She didn't have that at the moment but was on hand was a bottle of scotch...

[Buffett and Colbert]

Dogs and Scorpions

My mother got stung by a scorpion once. If you are stung by one, believe me, alcohol does NOT help the pain.

Keine Scheiße, Sherlock.

The kind you drink.

[North Suran]

My mother got stung by a scorpion once. If you are stung by one, believe me, alcohol does NOT help the pain.

Keine Scheiße, Sherlock.

The kind you drink.

What lead you to believe I meant otherwise?

[Yenke-Bin]

I also forgot to mention bats, as in the animal (although, in the right situation I might be afraid of a baseball bat ). Last summer, I woke up, in the middle of the day, with a bat on my leg. I had been under the influence of NyQuil, so I thought I was hallucinating. But then it got up and flew at me head and I realized it was real. Since that time, I can count about a half dozen times where a bat has swooped down at my head. Its to the point now that I run to my vehicle with my head down, if I go somewhere at night.

[No Names Left Damn It]

The kind you drink.

Lolfail. He said "No shit Sherlock."

[Buffett and Colbert]

What lead you to believe I meant otherwise?

Well it isn't TOTALLY out there to think drinking some alcohol would dull the pain. I thought perhaps you thought I meant rubbing alcohol.

But yes drinking alcohol does not help. I suppose it gets your blood flowing so the poison gets all around your body. Yuck.

[Neocaridia]

Ticks.

[Buffett and Colbert]

The kind you drink.

Lolfail. He said "No shit Sherlock."

I'm aware of that. I thought perhaps he thought I meant rubbing alcohol.

[Buffett and Colbert]

Ticks.

Ooh you'd HATE our house. We're infested with ticks at the moment.

[Old Sincostan]

As for me, I have an irrational fear of, well, extra-terrestrial life, mainly due to the portrayal of such creatures in popular film.

Same here,gave me many sleepless nights in my childhood.

Scorpions

Scorpions freak me out to the point,that when playing Fallout 3 and a giant radscorpion is coming to towards me,I go beserk.